Although many people think of Israel as the Holy land, which conjures visions of sand, camels, old buildings, and very religious people, Israel is as diverse as the United States, in geography, religion, people, and cuisine. Contrary to popular belief, Israel is home to one of the most exciting tourist destinations for gay men and women, Tel Aviv.

In addition to high fashion, eclectic art galleries, stunning sunsets and sleepy sidewalk cafes, Tel Aviv is also home to some of the hottest clubs worldwide, and many of those cater to the gay community. Tel Aviv is a place that encourages people to express themselves, to be free, to enjoy life, to be crazy, and to take chances. Gay or straight, it’s a phenomenal vacation destination.

Tel Aviv is home to the TLVFEST – an annual summer international LGBT Film Festival. Gays and lesbians from all over the world come every June to enjoy and show off the city’s gay spirit.

In addition to the film festival, there are beach parties, parades, dance groups, art exhibitions, theater productions and lots of friendly people.

A Good Motto for All

Whether you’re interested in being near fashion, the beach or the underground scene, there are a variety of places that, aren’t just gay-friendly, but that cater specifically to the gay traveling community. Most are flat rentals, but some are shared quarters so you can meet other gay travelers spending their vacation in Israel. The upside of staying at a flat instead of a hotel is that a traveler gets the real feel of staying in Israel and the experience feels less like a vacation and more like a break from normal life, replaced with extraordinary life.

From Gay Tel Aviv Guide

Here are five sites that will you to excellent gay accommodation choices:

As the hottest gay destination in the Tel Aviv(and, really, the only destination in the Middle East where gay sex isn’t illegal), you can’t miss this destination on your next trip. But, where you stay is more important than you think. You don’t want to spend a lot of time taking taxis to places where you want to be when you can stay in a place that is walking distance(or stumbling distance if you’re like most twenty-somethings after a night of heavy partying). You don’t want to pick the cheapest place or spend a lot of money just because the room on the internet looks nice. Most gay accommodations have the interests of the gay traveler in mind. So, before you get started on your trip, you must find the perfect place to rest your head for the few hours a day you plan on sleeping.

Many people love to barter, haggle and negotiate when traveling. But I can’t ever bring myself to do it. If I have enough money to travel, and I have enough money to buy souvenirs, I feel like I should just pay the price they’re asking. If I do the conversion rate from dollars to shekels(or pesos or dirhams or rupees or bahts), I am already getting a deal. Trying to barter in English never gets me anywhere and bartering in Israel feels a little like competing against the Harvard Debate team. Israelis are the best arguers in the world. They argue for the sake of argue. They’ll stand all day with you waiting for you to pay the price they want you to pay. But this is how they make money, and while the shekel has seen some improvement against the dollar and the euro, it’s still not one for one. Before shopping and haggling, be sure of the exchange rate to know exactly how much the merchant is asking and how much you’re willing to pay.

She Got a Great Deal

If the merchant thinks I’m able to pay because I’m a tourist, and that I need to buy this particular thing for my grandma, or co-worker, or friend back home, they think they’ve got me at the disadvantage. There are exceptions, of course. Less commercial markets may barter more quickly and more generously, if you speak Hebrew(or are with a Hebrew speaker) you are at an advantage, and if it is the end of the day, and it’s something that is going to expire, they might sell it to you for cheaper than they ask. I asked my friends her feeling about haggling over prices and she insisted that I was wrong.

So if you can stomach the negotiations, she says to follow these rules:

You can’t barter in supermarkets or regular stores, but in the market, you should always try to get the merchant to take the price down.

If they don’t budge, walk out. They’ll follow you.

You’re more likely to get a better deal from Arab merchants than from Jewish merchants.

Bartering in Tel Aviv is a little more easy going than in the Old City. They can be really intimidating, but stand your ground and hold to the price you’re willing to pay. The worst thing is when you show your tour guide the kipa you bought for forty shekels, when everyone else paid 20.

Very few shops have original items, so if you don’t like the price he’s willing to sell it to you for, move on.

Know what you’re paying in dollars. It’s the best way to tell if you’re happy with the price.

Only haggle if you really mean to buy something. Otherwise you’re wasting his time, and yours.

Haggling Makes you Hungry

In the Tel Aviv-Yafo area, there are three markets at which you can barter for goods. The Carmel Shuk(Hebrew for market), the Bezalel Market and the Flea Market in Tel Aviv. Each market offers a different feel and a variety of products. If you’re just in the mood to shop, any market will satisfy your desire to look at a bunch of stuff you probably don’t need. But the prices are so good, it’s really hard to say no to three different scarves because they’re 3 scarves for 40 shekels(10 dollars). In fact, if you leave the market without buying a scarf for yourself or for someone else, you’ve missed one of the best products in the market. If you’re looking for Judaica, your best bet is the Carmel Shuk. If you want antique or eclectic products, go to Jaffo’s Flea Market. While you can find clothing in both the Carmel Shuk and the Flea Market, the prices are lowest at the Bezalel Market.

Happy shopping and happy haggling, if you’re not a passive-aggressive shopper like me.

]]>http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/09/08/bartering-haggling-negotiating-in-israel/feed/41Tenth Year for T-Market in Tel Avivhttp://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/09/06/tenth-year-for-t-market-in-tel-aviv/
http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/09/06/tenth-year-for-t-market-in-tel-aviv/#commentsMon, 06 Sep 2010 09:32:03 +0000http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/?p=480Today was the start of T-Market, an outdoor clothing/accessories fair that has top designers selling last year’s designs at crazy low prices. These designs are still hot, but the prices have cooled way down. From September 2nd to September 4th, Tel Aviv designers and shops like American Apparel had a rummage sale. I wish I could say that everything was amazing and show you fantastic pictures of the event, but alas, from the moment I set out to go, my travel was fraught with catastrophe(perhaps too strong of a word choice, but follow along and you decide).

A Lot to Choose From in a Little Space

Israel’s biggest T-shirt and streetwear fair was held at the Barzilay Club. There were unique t-shirts, bags, hats, shoes, earrings, necklaces, dresses, skirts, jeans. If you could wear it, it was there and it didn’t look like something fresh out of JCPenny. It was 10 shekels to get in, a very small price to pay and nearby parking was only 15 shekels. I snagged up a free subscription to a newspaper in English and got a free book for my trouble. The book was in Hebrew, but I decided to re-gift it to my fiance(I was rewarded with a kiss).

Americal Apparel was selling things from past collections. I bought four tank tops for 80 shekels. That’s 24 dollars. There were dresses, skirts, leggings, men’s shirts, t-shirts and tanks, all for super low prices. And so what if it’s last season? American Apparel is practically timeless. I would buy the same tank tops in five years and I would have bought them five years ago.

Definitely Something for Everyone

There were designer dresses 70% off and some vendors were practically giving away jewelry. The coolest part was how the designers set up their ware. First of all, everything was very neat. At “rummage” or “big sale” events, usually everything is so mangled, it’s not worth taking the time to unhook this string from that hanger which is attached to this tag. But everything was in order and easily accessible. Secondly, the set-up was pleasing to the eye. T-shirts were color coordinated, and designer jeans were set up in a rainbow of colors on the table in front of the designer’s stand. Every designer had a sign with his or her design name so you knew who was making the clothes you were oohing and aahing(or making vomit faces at because let’s face it…designer doesn’t always mean finer).

So Many Options; What do "I" Want?

In addition, a super cool DJ was spinning fun music to shop to(American Boy, Poker Face, etc.) so you could dance a little while you perused. If your friend got tired, there was a cafe to buy iced coffees and salads, or a beer to quench your thirst. Though part of the fair was outside, it was late in the day and all shaded, so the heat didn’t feel as oppressive as usual.

So it sounds great, right? It was. You should definitely go if you’re in Tel Aviv during the T-Market Designer Clothes and Accessories Fair. So where did it all go wrong?

Be sure to follow these few guidelines so you don’t end up having mixed feelings next year about the way you spent your day at T-Market 2011.

#1. Do not drive. With the best directions, you will get lost. Tel Aviv is a big mess of streets, without concern for people who miss a turn and need to make a U-ey. Take a cab. The address is 13 Harechev.

#2. Do not park on the side of the road even if other people are parked there. You will come back two hours later to a lovely 250 shekel ticket which really makes you rethink your 80 shekel American Apparel purchase.

#3. Be sure to put the memory card in your camera if you plan to take wicked cool pictures of the event so you can post them on your blog in hopes that other travelers will want to see what it looked like instead of just hearing about how great it was(this is why there are no, and will be no pictures). (except for me posing in the tank tops, taken at a later hour) Cool pics at the T-MARKET website saved me.

#4. Take enough cash just in case you forgot that your storage bill came through the first of the month and you can only charge 19 dollars to your VISA, thus rendering you unable to buy all the great deals you see and confining you to spending the only 80 shekels you have.

#5. This is a tag along to #3. Because you spent the 80 shekels on tank tops, you have no money for dinner.

So, if you follow my rules, you will have a fantastic time. I went on the first day because I wanted to see what the designers had before everyone pawed through it all. But it might be a good idea to go back to see what’s left at the end because it will be reduced to super super low prices. They want everything to go and I have just the place….my closet!(if only I didn’t have to give the country of Israel 250 shekels for parking my car where there were lots of other cars parked too and not putting up a very clear sign that said do not park here). The eleventh year for T-Market in Tel Aviv will definitely see Shoshi, with lots of cash, exiting a cab with her fully-functioning camera to try a re-do for NileGuide readers around the world.

]]>http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/09/06/tenth-year-for-t-market-in-tel-aviv/feed/11Q & A with Inspire Collectivehttp://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/29/q-a-with-inspire-collective/
http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/29/q-a-with-inspire-collective/#commentsSun, 29 Aug 2010 19:58:38 +0000http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/?p=498Travelers to Tel Aviv can attest to the growing amount of art work lining the city walls. It’s not commissioned by the city, but rather imagined, believed and inspired into being by street artists.

Inspire Festival 9/4-9/5

An art exhibit, nee, OCCASION, lauding inspired art, has once again come to Tel Aviv. With the Inspire Festival beginning soon, the organizers had lots to do and yet, still found time to answer a local expert’s questions about the upcoming art exhibit. Before you read, take a look at this incredible artwork(click on photos) featured on Inspire Collective’s website. The Inspire Festival will be held at Comfort 13 in Florentin on September 4th & 5th from 8pm – 1am. The following is a short Q&A conducted as a preview to the fabulous festival in Florentin.

Q: Let’s get it out there, in the open: What is the greatest thing about this event?

A: This is the 1st global urban art festival in the Middle East that focuses specifically on public art. That alone is a great thing to take part of.

Q: Why should people come to the exhibit?

A: The international public art community is always growing and consistently providing high energy visual inspirations. To us, getting bigger means becoming better! Public art in the Middle East needs your support! The festival celebrates inspirations of all kinds, and asks artists from around the world, “What inspires YOU?”

Q: Who are the artists behind the exhibit?

Art of Inspire Festival

A: This show will have over 70 local and international artists exhibiting, and 2 international artists, Mr. Di Maggio from Milan and JamOne from Paint by Numbers crew in the UK, who flew in to paint live at the festival. This year, Inspire Collective and Juicebox are working together to have 2 days of inspirations from over 70 international and local public artists who’s artworks will be on display with more art, live music,live painting, video projection, air conditioning, and a bar.

Q: Who organizes Inspire Collective?

A: We’re a small group of full time public artists (for the last seven years, here in the Middle East) working with a wide variety of mediums, organizing global public art exhibitions & much more.

Inspire Festival

Q: Why did you choose to hold it in the great city of Tel Aviv?

Inspire Collective has been curating the Inspiration Art Exhibitions for a few years now, and started out in Jerusalem. After moving to Tel Aviv in 2007, the Inspiration Art Exhibitions and the ReUse Projects we held in Tel Aviv.

An early Shana Tova(Good Year!) to you! The Jewish holiday is celebrated throughout the world by Jews and others wishing to get in on the cultural festivities. Madonna even spent one Rosh Hashanah in Israel, and though not Jewish, she is a fervent student of Kaballah, Jewish mysticism. And for those who celebrate with a loved one, a friend or just know someone at work who is celebrating Rosh Hashanah, there is a great guide for Gentiles who want to be “in the know” for the beginning of High Holy Days.

The Jewish calendar is not the same as the Julian calendar, the calendar by which the world uses to make dates, celebrate holidays, plan vacations, and, of course, put the nose to the grindstone and work. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd days of the Hebrew month “Tishrei,”and actually begins on the 29th (and last) night of the month Elul.It is the only Jewish holiday which last for two whole days, considered one long day, which emphasizes how important it is.

While Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday, celebrating the new year can have implications for non-Jews as well. It is a time for personal introspection, as well as prayer, a time to decide what we can and are willing to change about our lives, a time to reflect on what we have done, and ask forgiveness from those we have wronged. These are the days when God judges people’s deeds throughout the year and decides their future for the coming year. A symbolic custom of Rosh Hashanah is to walk to an open body of water(pools, ponds, and lazy rivers in water parks do not count) and shake out the pockets, thereby “shaking one sins into the water.” Another symbolic tradition is the dipping of apples in honey in hopes for a sweet year.

Don’t be alarmed if you hear horns blowing . A ram’s horn, or a shofar, is blown in single, triple and nine-blast groupings to signify God’s rule over the world, and also serve as a reminder to the Jews of receiving the commandments on Mt. Sinai, as well as of Abraham and Isaac’s devotion to God, and to rouse people into repentance.

It is customary to wish everyone a Shana Tova(Good Year), as it is in the rest of the world to say HAPPY NEW YEAR after the ball has officially dropped in every time zone.

An Old Rosh Hashanah Greeting Card

Most shops and businesses are closed on these days, but Tel Aviv is Israel’s city of sin, and maybe cafes and restaurants are open to accommodate the less religious, or non-Jewish, visitors/citizens to and of Tel Aviv. But if you’re looking for an authentic experience, head into a synagogue for a glimpse of the traditional Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Everyone is permitted, Jews and non-Jews alike. Depending on the synagogue, there may be some special requirements, but overall women should be dressed modestly before entering a holy place. When unsure, ask someone walking into the synagogue if you look okay.

However, if you’re not interested in the religious aspects of Rosh Hashanah, there are still plenty of things to do in Tel Aviv on September 8th and 9th. Here are just a few options:

Tel Aviv is a great city, especially during the New Year when people feel more alive, and are thinking about changes they can make to improve their lives and the world. Jewish or not, what can you do to make the world a little sweeter? Start by dipping some apples and maybe something will come to mind…

]]>

http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/29/spending-rosh-hashanah-in-israel-2010/feed/21Make Your Way around Tel Aviv like a Native!http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/25/make-your-way-around-tel-aviv-like-a-native/
http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/25/make-your-way-around-tel-aviv-like-a-native/#commentsWed, 25 Aug 2010 08:29:01 +0000http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/?p=458102 years ago when the first sixty settlers came to the area that is now Tel Aviv, they had nice rows of homes, streets that were aligned. Somewhere over the next century, Tel Aviv grew, but city planners apparently were not employed in this town. Streets in Tel Aviv curve all which ways, there is no reason that the street number 14 is going to be 14 on parallel streets. There are a number of one way streets that are not always obvious to drivers; I know, I’ve been that driver being honked at.

This being said, a helpful guide to traveling around the city needed to be written.

Which way are you headed?

Most of the travel signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English, so reading the signs isn’t an impossibility. Traveling through the city using public transportation can be done with taxis, a shirut or the bus system. There is no subway and the train will only take you outside of Tel Aviv, not within. If you are wishing to go to Haifa, Beer Sheva, Eilat, or Jerusalem, there are a variety of options for train or bus and this is the website to find/purchase tickets. The train station has many stops, two that are popular are: Tel Aviv University(timetable) in Ramat Aviv and Arlozorov train station(map) in the center of Tel Aviv. Traveling within Tel Aviv is also easy, one can take a short walk from bus stop to bus stop and often going from one end of the city to the other is only one short bus or sherut ride.

Put Your Hand Out; They'll Stop

Sherut is Hebrew for “service”. “The sherut” refers to vans that are a combination of a taxi and bus. It has a specific route, but will stop anywhere along that route to pick up or drop off travelers. The price for inner city sheruts are the same as a bus ride(5.80 shekels). Unlike buses, sheruts run on Shabbat(Friday night to Saturday night), holidays and throughout the night to destinations throughout the country. The sheruts are a yellow van with red writing and the line number is posted in the front right window(left if you’re viewing it head on). The 4 and the 5 go up and down Ben Yehuda taking you through the north and south parts of the city two streets up from the beach.

Typical Tel Aviv Bus

There are many buses and it is important to know which one you need to take, in which direction and where to get off. Bus drivers are usually helpful, but you need to know if your destination is toward the north(Ra’anana) or the south(Jaffo). Then, get on a bus going in that direction. When you enter the bus, it is perfectly acceptable to ask the driver is the bus goes to your destination and if he would please announce when you are there. Sit next to the driver and pay attention.

You can pay in local currency for the sherut, buses and taxis. Local currency is the shekel, and bus/sherut rides are 5.80(about 2 dollars). You cannot pay in dollars, credit card or check.

Traveling with courtesy: It’s ok to ride in the front of the bus, but if the bus starts filling up or an elderly person gets on, you must get up. People stand, and a bus ride is never too long even across the city. In the sherut, when it stops just get in and find a seat. Then pass your money forward. Everyone knows the rules, so you should too. When someone new gets on, help to pass their money along. It’s ok if you don’t have exact change, everyone will pass your change back to you.

Ignoring the obvious does no service to travelers to Tel Aviv. Many people worry about the dangers of travel. Do not be afraid to ride the public transport system here. The country has taken systematic measures to ensure the safety of it’s citizens. One thing I must warn you about. When you get your ticket for riding, hang on to it. Every once in awhile the bus police board and if you can’t find your ticket, you have to get off the bus. Random checks prevent riders from hopping on for free during a busy exchange and also from riding to a destination that is more expensive than the one they paid for.

With all that being said, travel should not be a big concern. The city isn’t wide and one cannot get lost in it. If all else fails, stop and ask someone. Israelis are very friendly, and will often walk you to exactly where you need to go.

]]>http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/25/make-your-way-around-tel-aviv-like-a-native/feed/91The best Haifa has to offerhttp://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/21/the-best-haifa-has-to-offer/
http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/21/the-best-haifa-has-to-offer/#commentsSat, 21 Aug 2010 17:07:39 +0000http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/?p=441I may be an expert on Tel Aviv, but sometimes I like to get out of the city and travel to other parts of Israel. A 45 minute train or bus ride north will get your to one of Israel’s four largest cities: Haifa. Though Haifa isn’t the metropolitan city that Tel Aviv is, there is one phenomenal attraction that Tel Aviv cannot claim: The Bahai Gardens.

Let’s stop here to use the bathroom

The Bahai’s website explains their religion as follows: “The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Its founder, Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá’ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.”

The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society.

It is almost a pity to show pictures of the Bahai Gardens, which are kept looking as gorgeous as they do through the donations of Bahai followers worldwide, but as I have described them as phenomenal and best Haifa has to offer, I have to put my proverbial money where my virtual mouth is.

There are 19 terraces within the Bahá’í Gardens, which sit on the northern slope of Mount Carmel. At the center of the gardens is a dome of gold called the Shrine of the Bab, where the Prophet of the Bahai faith rests. The intricate geometry of the place is centered around his resting point. The gardens offer a panoramic view of the city and on clear days, one can see up the coast to Akko, the hills of Galilee and even Rosh Hanikra.

One of the Walking Paths

The gardens are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day of the week, except for Bahai holy days and Yom Kippur. The inner garden closes at noon, and if you wish to enter the gardens alone you may, but a guided tour is recommended by the Bahai Gardens staff and I wholeheartedly agree. What one can see through the eyes is heightened by the meaning and the story behind the view.

Perfect for a Wedding, but you cannot "rent" the gardens

If you take my advice and choose to take a tour through the gardens, they are free and offered every day except for Wednesdays. There is no need to make a reservation, but if you are a group of 25 or more, you should call ahead to make arrangements.

When visiting the Gardens, remember: Wear clothing to cover your shoulders and knees. This is a holy site and visitors must be respectful. The pavement can be slippery so the gardens recommend shoes with good traction. In the summer, sunscreen, a hat and water(like every place in Israel) are absolutely necessary. Other drinks, food and gum are not permitted inside, and neither are animals or weapons. You may take pictures, but not inside the Shrine.

]]>http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/21/the-best-haifa-has-to-offer/feed/91Cheese and Olives and Eggs, Oh My!http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/20/cheese-and-olives-and-eggs-oh-my/
http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/2010/08/20/cheese-and-olives-and-eggs-oh-my/#commentsFri, 20 Aug 2010 21:09:16 +0000http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/tel-aviv/?p=425In some cultures, breakfast cuisine is intricate, forcing the breakfast maker to get up sometimes hours before their guests to prepare a culinary extravaganza that is breakfast.

Unlike England where the standard breakfast includes some or all of the following: bacon, fried eggs, fried mushrooms, fried tomatoes, fried sausage, black pudding, beans and coffee or tea – –

A Full English Breakfast Plate

– – Or a typical Mexican breakfast of huevos rancheros or chorizo and eggs, the Israeli breakfast is healthy, light and simple to create.

Huevos Rancheros: Heartburn on the Side

While the specifics of an Israeli breakfast are really up to you, here are the following necessary components:

You’ll need:

Labane(Lah-bah-nay)

Cheeses – hard, soft, cottage cheese, labane(I bought French cheese for a party and was the only one who ate what I brought). Labane is a popular cheese in Israel and the best way to stay authentic.

These are not your typical olives

Olives – whole Israeli olives or other Mediterranean olives. TIP: Leave a dish for olive pits. And don’t serve olives from a can.

Israeli salad – chopped vegetable salad containing tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, parsley if you dare, with a lemon juice, olive oil and salt dressing. All homemade, and every Israeli salad I taste is different from home to home. What will yours taste like?

Chop it, Mix it, Serve it

Thanks to all the Chickens Who Made These Eggs Possible

Challah is the bread of Shabbat

Eggs – Make these anyway you like. Hard-boiled eggs are common in communal dining rooms, as are scrambled eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are also found in sandwiches and on salads. But anything goes with eggs: omelettes, soft-boiled, poached, you name it!

Bread – This includes pita or challah, but a loaf of artisan bread is just as acceptable. Be sure to serve it with butter, jams or honey.

Often plates of pickled fish are served, but this is not considered a must for an Israeli breakfast.

Once you've had Fresh, you can never...go....back.

Mint from the garden preferred

Fresh-squeezed juice is easy to come by in Israel. Juice stands along most streets over a variety of freshly squeezed juices for you to drink right away or take home. Many people squeeze juice right in their homes. But I suppose Tropicana Orange Juice will serve in a pinch if you’re just trying to replicate a real Israeli breakfast.

Tea and coffee are a must! Mint tea is especially popular for breakfast in Israel.

To make your Israeli breakfast truly authentic, here are some helpful phrases to use while at your breakfast table:

B’Tay’avon: Direct translation is Good Appetite, but it means Eat up and enjoy your food!

Boker tov: Good Morning

Beitzeem: Eggs

Gavina: Cheese

Meetz: Juice

Lechem: Bread

En makom: I don’t have a place(I’m full)

Kol Devar ha’iti nehedar: Everything was Wonderful

Toda!: Thank you!

Now you have all the ingredients for an Israeli breakfast, so what are you waiting for? Your next breakfast can only be a few hours away!

Lila Levan(White Night) is a new yearly tradition in Tel Aviv. UNESCO named Tel Aviv the White City in 2003 and ever since, Tel Aviv has been holding a night to celebrate it’s status and give it’s citizens a city-wide party. Just part of the White Night events include cultural and art centers, stores, restaurants, and clubs staying open late, with many outdoor performances that are open to the public and mostly free.

It’s hard to explain to or prepare someone for Tel Aviv’s White Night because there is no comparable American holiday to liken it to. People who drive their cars in Tel Aviv are nuts. There is little to no parking anyway in Tel Aviv, but on Lila Levan, every space, even those that aren’t parking spots, are filled with cars. My advice if you’re not living or staying in Tel Aviv is to take a bus into the city in the afternoon, rent a hostel room, and stay overnight. The party goes on until way after the buses stop running and if you’re able to get a taxi, it’s a small miracle. Would you really want to waste a miracle on getting a cab?

500,000 people are invited to this party and everyone is bringing a friend.

I couldn’t write about everything that happened that night. Even Ferris Bueller could not have made it to every single event of the night, and certainly not to have a meaningful experience. By choosing jazz over a tour of the Bauhaus buildings, or dancing on the beach over the opera performance, one does miss out on something phenomenal, but the idea that so many people are celebrating the existence of Tel Aviv and the prestige of being declared a World Heritage Site is binding, and though a visitor or resident of Tel Aviv cannot possibly take in everything Lila Levan has to offer, one cannot possibly be disappointed in the evening.

With that in mind, my pictures of Lila Levan are not sufficient. Check out this Tel Avivian’s photoblog of the night. Organizers of next year’s Lila Levan events will have to work very hard to top this years’. But, if I know Tel Aviv, and if I know Israelis, they won’t have any trouble making Lila Levan 2011 as unforgettable as 2010.

I hope you read the headline with Sean Connery’s voice in your head, because that’s how it sounded in my head when I typed it.

As many know, shopping for shoes can be a headache for everyone involved.

Usually,you’re out there because you need something. Your favorite flip flops broke, you need a new pair of heels to match a new outfit, your boots from eight years ago just won’t handle another winter, your athletic shoes are full of sand, whatever. Shopping for shoes in Israel isn’t quite as easy as it is in America. In the States, I go to Wavelengths or Pacific Sunwear for flip flops, Macy’s for heels, Nordstrom’s Rack for boots, and Footlocker for athletic shoes.

We don’t have those stores here.

Mostly, you have to go to a number of stores to find exactly what you want. If it’s imported Nikes, Pumas or Adidas, expect to spend a lot of money. You’re better off waiting, or asking someone to send you a pair from home. But, as for the rest of the styles, you’re in luck! Tel Aviv is a great place to find stylish, and inexpensive, shoes, sandals and boots. Unless, of course, you want to spend a lot of money. There are opportunities for that too.

There aren’t large department stores here, so you have to go to many individual shops to find exactly what you want. And if what you want costs a lot of money, it will probably be high quality. Look in the malls(Dizengoff, Ayalon, Azraeli) or on Dizengoff Street for high-priced, high-fashion, high-quality footwear. Though I can’t shell out the bucks for Kardashian-style footwear, I can pause a bit at a window and pretend. My favorite places to pause are on Dizengoff.

You'll Never Forget Where you Bought this Shoe

My favorite places to enter are on Allenby, near the Shuk. Or on King George Street, which is juts out from Allenby and upwards toward Ibn Givriol. My last shoe shopping experience had me spending less than $52 and I bought four pairs of sandals. So, if you’re like me, you like to have a lot of shoes because one pair of black sandals is not going to match with everything you own. And some dresses call for long sleek skinny heeled shoes, whereas others are better paired with cute chunky wedges. Whatever your desires for shoes are, be sure to find what you’re looking for in Israel.

Shoes as Art

And my personal recommendation, as an expert on Tel Aviv, living here and roaming the streets, submerging myself in the culture to find where to go and where not to go, so you don’t have to, …where am I? I’ve gotten lost in commas.

You may have heard of Naot, which is Israel’s most popular leather shoe company. The shoes do last a long time, and are apparently comfortable. I must say though, from a fashion standpoint, they’re a little awful. And they are crazy expensive. And you can find much better all-leather shoes made in Israel for a reasonable price.

So many to choose from

Owner of Chief, Eitan

Which reminds me, my personal recommendation is Chief. The owner, Eitan, and his brother make all the shoes by hand. They are hand-made leather crafts which are custom fit and custom designed. They sell sandals, and sandals that lace-up, moccasins, boots, bags and belts. They are very popular with Birthright groups traveling through Israel from the US, Canada, England, Australia and the former Soviet Union. Average price is 150 shekels(less than $40). The shoes are very cute, and very comfortable. If you go there, say Shoshi sent you. Eitan is the kind of guy that remembers people, has a smile for everyone and will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.